Here we are! The NRL finals. It’s like a new season as teams fight to keep their premiership hopes alive.
Some mouth-watering clashes, rich with history, rivalry, and tension. Who comes out on top; well, we’ll find out.
For now, here are the teams for the first week of the finals of the NRL Telstra Premiership:
Penrith Panthers v Sydney Roosters (#NRLFinals #NRLPanthersRoosters); Panthers Stadium, Penrith; Friday, October 2. Kick-off: 7:50 pm.
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Josh Mansour 3. Brent Naden 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. James Tamou (C) 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo.
Interchange: 14. Tyrone May 15. Kurt Capewell 16. Moses Leota 17. Zane Tetevano.
Reserves: 18. Mitch Kenny 19. Dean Whare 20. Matt Burton 21. Spencer Leniu.
Coach: Ivan Cleary.
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Josh Morris 4. Joseph Manu 5. Brett Morris 6. Luke Keary 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Freddy Lussick 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Boyd Cordner (C) 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Isaac Liu.
Interchange: 14. Lachlan Lam 15. Lindsay Collins 16. Angus Crichton 17. Sonny Bill Williams.
Reserves: 18. Nat Butcher 19. Mitch Aubusson 20. Poasa Faamausili 21. Matt Ikuvalu.
Coach: Trent Robinson.
Canberra Raiders v Cronulla Sharks (#NRLFinals #NRLRaidersSharks); GIO Stadium, Canberra; Saturday, October 3. Kick-off: 5:40 pm.
Raiders: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Semi Valemeni 3. Jarrod Croker (C) 4. Jordan Rapana 5. Nick Cotric 6. Jack Wighton 7. George Williams 8. Josh Papalii 9. Tom Starling 10. Dunamis Lui 11. John Bateman 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Joseph Tapine.
Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili 15. Iosia Soliola 16. Hudson Young 17. Corey Harawira-Naera.
Reserves: 18. Sam Williams 19. Kai O’Donnell 20. Michael Oldfield 21. Matthew Timoko.
Coach: Ricky Stuart.
Sharks: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Josh Dugan 4. Jesse Ramien 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Connor Tracey 7. Chad Townsend 8. Braden Hamlin-Uele 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Aaron Woods 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham (C) 13. Toby Rudolf.
Interchange: 14. Siosifa Talakai 15. Scott Sorenson 16. Andrew Fifita 17. Jack Williams.
Reserves: 18. Teig Wilton 19. Brayden Trindall 20. Mawene Hiroti 21. Bryson Goodwin.
Coach: John Morris.
Melbourne Storm v Parramatta Eels (#NRLFinals #NRLStormEels); Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane; Saturday, October 3. Kick-off: 7:50 pm.
Storm: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Suliasi Vunivalu 3. Brenko Lee 4. Justin Olam 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith (C) 10. Christian Welch 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenny Bromwich 13. Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
Interchange: 14. Brandon Smith 15. Tino Faasuamaleaui 16. Tom Eisenhuth 17. Nicho Hynes.
Reserves: 18. Darryn Schonig 19. Issac Lumelume 20. Albert Vete 21. Ryley Jacks.
Coach: Craig Bellamy.
Eels: 1. Clinton Gutherson (C) 2. Maika Sivo 3. Michael Jennings 4. Waqa Blake 5. Blake Ferguson 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitch Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Ryan Matterson 13. Nathan Brown.
Interchange: 14. Will Smith 15. Andrew Davey 16. Kane Evans 17. Marata Niukore.
Reserves: 18. Ray Stone 19. Brad Takairangi 20. Oregon Kaufusi 21. Daniel Alvaro.
Coach: Brad Arthur.
South Sydney Rabbitohs v Newcastle Knights (#NRLSouthsKnights); ANZ Stadium, Olympic Park; Sunday, October 4. Kick-off: 4:05 pm.
Rabbitohs: 1. Corey Allan 2. Alex Johnston 3. Campbell Graham 4. Dane Gagai 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Cody Walker 7. Adam Reynolds (C) 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Thomas Burgess 11. Jaydn Su’A 12. Bayley Sironen 13. Cameron Murray.
Interchange: 14. Mark Nicholls 15. Liam Knight 16. Jed Cartwright 17. Keaon Koloamatangi.
Reserves: 18. Steven Marsters 19. Hame Sele 20. Troy Dargan 21. Patrick Mago.
Coach: Wayne Bennett.
Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Edrick Lee 3. Enari Tuala 4. Bradman Best 5. Hymel Hunt 6. Mason Lino 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. David Klemmer 9. Kurt Mann 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 12. Aidan Guerra 13. Mitch Barnett.
Interchange: 14. Chris Randall 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Herman Ese’ese 17. Sione Mata’utia.
Reserves: 18. Josh King 19. Gehamat Shibasaki 20. Tex Hoy 21. Brodie Jones.
Coach: Adam O’Brien.
